THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 41 



short, alternate, sessile branches, the lowest about an inch in length, 

 the upper very short, and all densely crowded with the sessile flowers. 

 The two outer glumes are of nearly equal length, or the lower one 

 rather the longer, which is different from the ordinary rule of the ge- 

 nus. They are obtuse, five to seven-nerved, and fully as long as the 

 male or sterile flower, which is also obtuse. The perfect flower is of 

 equal length with the sterile one, very smooth, shining, delicately stri- 

 ate longitudinally, and obtusish. Leafy runners, 2 to 3 feet long, are 

 sent out form the base, which at intervals form thickened woolly knots 

 or nodes which eventually take root. This grass will evidently have 

 great endurance of drought, and is deserving of trial with reference 

 to its agricultural value. 



Panicum capillare. (Old Witch grass ; Hair-stalked Panic grass.) 



An annual grass varying in height from 6 inches to 2 feet, often 

 branching at the base. It has a large terminal panicle, which, when 

 mature, is very diffuse, with long capillary branches. The leaves and 

 sheaths are usually covered with long spreading hairs. It is very com- 

 mon in cultivated grounds, making its growth late in the summer, and 

 after maturity the tops break off and are blown about and accumulate 

 in quantities in fence corners. There is a smoothish form growing in 

 Texas and the Western Territories. The grass is generally rejected by 

 cattle, especially the very hairj- forms. It is one of the most worthless 

 kinds. (Plate 15.) 



There are maDy other species of Panicum which have some value as 

 wild forage where they prevail, but they are generally scanty in foliage, 

 thin in habit of growth, or otherwise unsuitable for cultivation. 



Setaeia. 



The structure of the flowers in this genus is the same as in Panicum j 

 of which genus it is by some botanists considered only a section. It is 

 characterized as follows. The spikelets collected into a cylindrical or 

 elongated spike-like, or sometimes interrupted, panicle. Below the ar- 

 ticulation of the spikelets are several (or one) bristles or stiff hairs, 

 which are supposed to be abortive branchlets, and which are persistent 

 after the fall of the spikelets. 



S:^taria Italic a. (Hungarian grass, Italian Millet, German Millet.) 



This grass is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, but it has 

 been extensively introduced into most civilized countries. It has long 

 been cultivated as a fodder grass both in Europe and in this country. 

 It is an annual grass of strong rank growth, the culms erect, 2 to 3 feet 

 high, with numerous long and broad leaves, and a terminal, spike-like, 

 nodding panicle, 4 to 6 inches long, and often an inch or more in diam- 

 eter. The panicle is composed of a great number of small closely- 

 crowded branches, each of which consists of a small group of several 



